Fastener for shoe-strings



(No Model.)

W. J VITT. FASTENER FOR SHOE STRINGS.

No. 421,638. Patented Feb. 18, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. VITT, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

FASTEN ER FOR SHOE-STRINGS.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,638, .dated February 18, 1890.

Application filed June 5, 1889. Serial No. 313,204. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. VITT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNeW York, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Shoe-Strings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved fastener for shoe-strings, by which the necessity of tying the string is avoided and the same firmly retained in position by means of a simple and eective retaining device; and Vthe invention consists of an eyelet applied to the shoe-upper, and of a hinge-retaining plate having a tongue that clamps or pierces the lacing-string, which is passed through the eyelet, so as to retain the same firmly in position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a face view of my improved fastening device for shoe-strings, showing the same in open position before the string is introduced. Fig. 2 isa face view of the same, showing the fastening device in position for retaining the shoe-string; and Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of the same on linea: Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the upper of a shoe, B an eyelet applied to the same, which eyelet is provided with pintlesockets a, and O is a plate that is hinged to the pintle-sockets of the eyelet and provided with a central V-shaped recess b and a pointed tongue O', bent at an angle to the plate. The hinged plate O partly closes the opening of the eyelet A when the same is placed over the tongue O of the hinged plate serving to engage the shoe-string D, passed through the eyelet A, so as to either clamp or pierce the same after it has been passed through the eyelet A. The shoe-string D is first applied to the holes or hooks of the shoe, and finally passed through the eyelet A, after which tho hinged plate O is placed over the shoe-string, so that the recessed part presses on the string, while the tongue O clamps or pierces the shoe-string, and the string is thus firmly retained by the wedge action of the plate and the direct action of the tongue, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The strain exerted on the lacing-string D holds the retaining plate O iirmly in closed position, and produces thereby the fastening of the lacing-string in a re` liable and effective manner without requiring the tying of the string. The recessed plate B may be acted on by a spring, and thereby retained in the eyelet in the same manner as the locking-plate of pocket-book clasps and the like. Vhen one lacing-string is used, one fastening is used, while when two lacingstrings are employed a second fastening device on the opposite part' of the shoe is employed.

The above-described fastening device can be used for fastening all kinds of strings other than shoe-strings-for example, corsetlaces, bag-strings, &c.

Having thus described my invention ,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A fastening for strings, composed of an eyelet applied to the upper of the shoe or analogous article, and a locking-plate hinged to said eyelet and provided with a recess and a tongue in said recess, saidtongue being made integral lwith the plate and bent at an angle thereto, so as to clamp or pierce the string, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribingfwitnesses.

WM. J. VITT.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL,

JOHN A. STRALEY. 

